Scheduled Areas

Scheduled Areas are areas in India with a preponderance of tribal population subject to a special governance mechanism[1] wherein the central government plays a direct role in safeguarding cultural and economic interests of scheduled tribes in the area.[2] The authority to create and administer Scheduled Areas stems from the Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution of India.[3]

The Fifth Schedule protects tribal interests in the states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, while the Sixth Schedule protects tribal interests in those four states excluded in the Fifth Schedule.[4]

In Scheduled Areas declared so under the Fifth Schedule, the governor of the state has special responsibilities with respect to tribal populations in the area including issuing directives to the state government and limiting the effect of acts of the central or state legislature on the Schedule Area.[5] On the other hand, in Scheduled Areas declared so under the Sixth Schedule, the emphasis is on self-rule; tribal communities are granted considerable autonomy, including powers to tribal communities to make laws and receive central government funds for social and infrastructure development. To enable local control, the role of the Governor and the State are subject to significant limitations in Sixth Schedule areas.[6]